Best purchase I have ever made!!!!!!! I purchased a 2019 Alltrack SEL 6spd manual, fully loaded on 12/16/2019. I came out of a 2017 RAM 1500 Sport V8 4WD. I will miss my truck, but this Alltrack 4Motion makes me quickly forget about my previous gas guzzler, and fulfills all of my utility needs. The safety system I am surrounded with speaks volumes, being the majority my daily commute is all highway, 70 miles round trip per day. The manual shift is very smooth, and the clutch has just enough tension to feel super sporty. I have a tendency to be a lead foot, so be careful with the effortless get up and go in the Alltrack. And, if I mind my manners on the highway, I am getting 32-33 mpg, vs. the 17-19 mpg I was getting in my RAM 1500. A big transitional savings for my wallet. I can not speak highly enough about the Alltrack. I am very satisfied with my purchase, and am looking forward to many years of endless smiles in my new Alltrack. LOL, seeing 12/2019 was the last production month prompted me to make my purchase very quick!
Luis Lopez I agree! I can’t stand SUV’s, and hate they they are so popular. If it wasn’t for their popularity, we’d have a lot more wagons choices. Americans have terrible taste in vehicles.
clothestravel yes!!! I own a Volvo wagon and it’s so much easier to drive then a big o SUV it’s pointless having that much car for very little unlike wagons.
clothestravel So, if you watched this review, you saw that he didn’t have much room in the backseat and he’s not overly tall. Also, yes, the wagon is AWD, but there is no way it could handle the amount of snow we’ve received the last couple of years in Minnesota. Although I like Volkswagen and Audi-especially the Q7 and Allroad-I’ll keep my SUV (2005 Mitsubishi Montero Limited) that still fits all of my kids (4) and has a true 4wd system which defeats the snow every time and goes farther off-road than both.
Sonny Mercado honestly they are spacious I test drive one and there just massive the cargo isn’t mind blowing but it is respectable! My girl is getting one and i couldn’t approve more they might tackle good snow with some good tires just wish they where slightly lifted more
@@thebeast9606 the problem with your snow related statement is i also live in minnesota and drive a mazda 6 fwd and it has handled the snow fine and i also have to remove snow where i work so i travel in the worst conditions.
I love a wagon. Drivin one myself! (A 350hp one) no sedan or hot hatch will ever compete with it. A hot wagon looks good, is practical for a family and is insanely quick too. Its the best of motoring
Just bought the 2019 Alltrack in November and I love it!!! And I am a total car girl, wanted the all wheel drive, comfort and sport handling, also I am getting 33 mpg highway!! Would definitely recommend this car! Got to love a sport wagon!
Hi Nathan! I live in Mexico City, even higher than Colorado and the turbo engines make the difference! Definitely go for it! I can see it in your eyes! You love the Allttack and you have the experience to know the great design it is! I used to have a SEAT Freetrack (you don't get it in the US) for 98 thousand km without a problem. It has the same powertrain but in 2.0 liter size. Go for it!
I had a 2013 Sportwagon TDI loved it. Looking at the 2018 to 2019 Alltrack now to buy. Sad such a good car is going to be gone soon. You guys make great reviews keep it up.
3 weeks ago, I bought a 2019 Golf Alltrack, manual. I could not be happier with or more excited about the car! This is not my first VW, but it reminds me of my first purchase, a 1996 Passat VR6 - it was a beast and went more than 100K on one clutch. All the reviews of this car, and I think I've seen them all, lead me to believe I may have found another gem. Thanks for the thorough review! Great channel. Farfegnugen!
I just purchased an 2019 Alltrack with the DSG and I love it! I got my super cheap too (I only got the S trim however) but it still has a lot of features especially coming from a 2009 Toyota 4runner. My only complaint is that it's not meant for the city or heavy suburban areas as the stop and go traffic I deal with tanks its MPG rating.
@@DoctorSkillz None. I don't put a ton of miles of my cars; only 7500 per year or so, but my 2017 Alltrack has been flawless. I also routinely get compliments on the ride quality from people who drive crossovers. The added suspension lift over the Sportwagon really does wonders for the ride.
Totally agree. Just bought a 2019 Alltrack for "She Who Must Be Obeyed." And she is VERY HAPPY!! Bought the Base trim with the automatic transmission, but still a lot of fun to drive. It's nicely appointed and has most of the necessary modern safety technology. It replaced a 20 year old VW Passat Wagon with a manual transmission, which she loved . . . but she's getting on in years and I convinced her that with slowing reflexes etc. an automatic is a better bet. She wanted a small wagon . . . didn't like any of the compact SUV's we looked at. This one definitely met all the requirements . . . drives great and looks good. Advice to potential buyers . . . Strike while the iron is hot . . . there's limited supply. But we got a very good deal.
I've owned a 2018 SE for just over a year now. Overall it's a great vehicle. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a primary family vehicle for those who have older (teenager) kids, as back seat leg room is just a bit lacking. However, for those with smaller kids or for use as a secondary vehicle - it's perfect. I will say it's extremely frustrating that Americans have such a fascination with SUVs/CUVs, because a wagon (or as VW calls it - wagen) like the Alltrack would suit so many peoples needs just fine. BTW, I'm getting 28mpg combined with mine on good old regular unleaded (no need for premium). PS: I'd be happy to visit you guys for a "Dude, I love (or hate) my ride" segment. I'm down in Parker, CO.
the fascination with suv/cuv you answered in your first sentence....(back seat leg room is lacking)! also...better options than suv/cuv were the toyota versa and and the honda crosstour.. they were also disc. rather quickly!....the thing all 3 of these had in common?? way over priced compared to rav4 and crv
@@davechurch1661 I wanted an Alltrack but the list price was so much over the Tiguan I bought, I'd rather own a sedan with 4Motion oh well too late now, I didn't realize the dealers were offering them so much under listed price.
@@kevinlin7674 Ask the man who owns both. The 1998-2005 Passat variant/wagon, built on a stretched Audi A4 platform, was the perfect car, only 3 inches longer than the 7th gen. Sportwagen, yet having noticeably more rear seat legroom and cargo space. As I look at the two in my garage, I always wonder, "Where did the interior space go?" The current Passat is a bit big for my tastes, and the Americanized version leaves much to be desired. I would have liked to see VW continue with the next generation Golf Sportwagen in addition to a proper Eurospec Passat variant. By offering the A4 and A6 Allroads and the RS6 Avant in the US, Audi almost understands that although wagons have only a niche following, it is arguably the single most loyal niche in the entire spectrum of car buyers.
We bought one about a month ago, just as in the video but with DSG. Extremely pleased with it. Been on road trips already, about 3000 miles. Nathan's comments we find to be accurate. Great driver, loads of space, super comfortable, great value. Nathan, go get one! BTW, what about the APR upgrades????
Bought a new 2018 SE manual with gray exterior and brown interior for $25K off the lot. Have had it for about 16 months now and 25K miles later - one of the best cars I've ever owned. Fun to drive, practical, great gas mileage (31mpg avg.), great on a long road trip or back road twisty, and man that panoramic sunroof...beautiful. I've owned 3 BMW 3-series, a Miata, Saab 9-3 Aero, and Mazda3 - this car has got to be my favorite in terms of overall offerings, style, and its fun to drive nature on top of that. Wish I could have gotten the SEL with a manual in 2018, but I can live without the tech distractions.
buildmorefarms100 as a matter of fact, about 4 months ago there was a terrible leak from the sunroof that left me with a gallon of water in the spare tire well. I went to the dealer and they told me I should have had the lines cleaned out...when there’s no mention of it in the manual anywhere, nor can you do it yourself, it’s about a $150 job. Still trying to figure out a way to restore my headliner. A drawback that VW really needs to address.
Hi Nathan, I got a 2017 VW SE alltrack just like the one in you test, except for the DCT, which I also love. This is my third VW with a DSG (DCT) Transmission. Never had a problem with any of them. I highly recommend the car. Your right about the Discounting. I got $8,000 of the MSRP. ( I bought it in 2018, it was a 2017 leftover with only 90 miles on the odometer.
We got a great deal on a 2017 Alltrack (AT) last year and it is a great car! Handles great (for a car that sits about 1inch higher than the standard sportwagon), although the ride is on the firmer side (a trade off i don't mind). Power is not bad and the delivery is smooth (as mentioned in the video). It is economical - it does ~45(uk)mpg which is what I used to get in my 01 Golf GTI (1.8t 150bhp), considering that the AT is a heavier car and it has AWD. It just goes to show how great the TSI engine really is. The look of the car still gets me every time, still after nearly 1 year of owning it!! So after a nearly a year of ownership, here are some of the things that I 'wish' for a) a bit more power b) it was a diesel (i think these are only available in Europe? certainly not in Canada!) c) either manual transmission OR paddle shift (unfortunately neither were available as an option in Canada afaik). Despite these things I still love the car and I don't regret a thing! even the OH loves driving it, and she is not into cars! I know tuning these cars is not hard and I could source a steering wheel with paddle shift easily. but honestly, I don't mind driving it as it is at the moment!
I have a 2018 Sportwagen with 4motion and dsg. I'm averaging 34 mpg and it cruises 70mph at around 40mpg. I even used it to deliver mail once. A perfect balance of fun/practicality
My wife got a 2017 Alltrack with a manual after we did the diesel buyback on her 2009 Jetta Sportwagen. There is a storage area below the light switch where I keep my wallet. There is also a small drawer underneath the driver's seat. My wife commutes from outside of Denver and spends half of that time in Denver traffic jams. Over 50k miles she has averaged 29 mpg. Go with the S model and avoid the panoramic sunroof! You save a lot of money, get a much quieter and more pleasant ride, more headroom, and never get sunroof leakage and breakage failures. The current price for one at Emich in Denver is $23.4 including the $600 dealer fee. Alltracks are a thrill to drive in snow.
@@kirsten.mogensen The SEL is the loaded model so it should have everything the lesser models have. Maybe VW eliminated it sometime after 2017. The seat drawer is not very tall and doesn't hold much. I don't use it and forgot about it until I saw this video.
drwisdom1 Where exactly is her commute? I had a Passat Wagon FWD in Denver and main problem with snow was not traction as much as ground clearance. But it happened twice in eleven years. Nevertheless extra two inches can help some. Tires are the main equalizer. Snow tires that is.
@@jamesmedina2062 We live in Conifer at 8600 feet and can get 2 to 3 feet of snow at one time. The only problem is our driveway is uphill and fwd sometimes can't get moving if it has iced. The Alltrack acts like it is dry pavement. The roads get plowed quickly and the Sun melts it fast so clearance has never been a problem for our Alltrack, Sportwagen, and GTI. We drive on dirt roads all the time but don't go offroad. How did you see and reply to this message? I can't see them anymore.
I have a 2020 model here in the U.K. one of the last ones available before the new Mk8 model came out. Love the way it goes 2.0 TDI 7- Speed DSG 182bhp 380NM Torque! It’s a very nice car.
I came across your channel a while back when starting our car search to replace my wife’s ‘06 Mazda 3 5-Door manual (we purchased it off the trailer when released) and are sad to see it go. Well...today we bought the VW Alltrack SEL Manual and now we’re a two wagon (2nd car is a 3-series estate) family (boys 8 & 6 are getting bigger and more active). We live and work in the city-urban area of the Twin Cities and appreciate the maneuverability and functionality a wagon provides, especially with roof rails. Thanks for the reviews!
I have the Sportwagen with 4motion and DSG. I live in New Brunswick Canada and can attest that these wagons are GREAT in the snow. I have also owned an Audi A4 and a Mercedes CClass and can say with confidence that the Sportwagen is much better on twisty roads and I don't see much difference in terms of acceleration between it and the Audi and Mercedes
Nathan, I have a 2018 and it's my favorite car of all time. I've had many vehicles including 3 Acura TL's, mdx, s2000, Subaru wrx etc and none of the above measure with the alltrack. Strongly recommend this vehicle, it is exciting every time I drive it. We will be driving to CO from IL in September as we've been doing for the last 12 years or so, 4 times a year (hoping to move out to CO some day) cant wait to try the 1.8tsi in the mountains. Tha k you for this review, these wagons deserve more props than they get.
One of the best cars I have ever owned. I have a fully loaded 2017 with a Level #1 APR tune. This car literally does everything exceptionally well ... on regular gas!
Your wife good sir is a freakn' hero for being into manuals still. Good for her! Great review Nathan. I am still loving my 15 month old Mk7 Jetta S and my 8 week old GLI both with manual trans, great cars. I think VW might have me for the rest of my days now....
I just bought a 2019 Alltrack SE and love it. Traded a 2012 Sportwagen TDI. When I test drove the manual transmission, it felt like it had no power at all. At least compared to the TDI. Then I drove a DSG, and it went like a rocket. I told the salesman, and he agreed. I went home with the DSG.
Amazing used car value. Just bought a 2018 Sportwagen with sunroof/leatherette/8' touch screen certified pre-owned with 26K KMs for 19995$ CAD. Now I have a unicorn fleet with a 2016 Outback 6 spd manual. Love them both. One handles and has better tech, the other has personality, size and is very comfortable on road trips.
Great BUY 👍 I have a 2017 SEL dsg model I bought after my 2.5L 5cyl Jetta sportwagen was totalled. It's been a great vehicle and I have 40k plus on in less than 2 years.
I bought a S model and love it. I have a new job where I am putting a lot of miles on the car and it is a solid daily driver. Definitely an improvement over a crossover or cross trek. Manual is a plus. Price was great. 22,100 with tax and title.
Storage, I have a '15 Sportwagen SE purchased new and the door pockets are massive. Right of steering storage, arm rest, glove box, under driver seat drawer, under pass seat storage. With sun roof you lose the eyeglass storage and tons of storage areas in rear. I think it's great for storage. Amazing performance 6sp auto with paddle shifters, handling, ecomony have gotten 39mpg on road trip. and has been reliable so far. Couple recall items, never broke down. I love the classy look of mine too. White with tinted windows, Yakima roof bars, 17 inch rims, Fender stereo is really great! Like the sleeper aspect. Great car! Smile every time I see or drive it.
I have the exact car you had in the video. Just road tripped to Maine, it was awesome. I get lots of compliments on the Green exterior with Marrakesh interior. Reminds of my Audi A4 I used to have. Love the manual transmission. Buy it!
@@emmcey I hear you, but I'd rather own a car I enjoy and potentially sacrifice some reliability over driving a super boring but supremely reliable vehicle.
@@jobot Yes because the Odyssey is pretty bad. Others like the Civic and Accord are fairly reliable. Let's face it for reliability you think a Jetta is better than a Civic?
In my case I was very fortunate to grab a brand new 2016 Sportwagen TDi SE, they offer very limited quantities in Mexico . City driving 33MPG, Highway 42-45 MPG .Great car and no issues after 2 years ownership.
Purchased the first one my dealer got back in the fall of 2016 (2017 Model) We got the SEL w/ Lighting and Driver Assistance Pkgs. I can say that after 60k miles the Alltrack has been a great car. Year 2 we had a warranty claim for a leaking water pump and post warranty we needed a new battery, pretty minor for 3 yrs of ownership. As an active family who sails and kayak's the wagon makes more sense as it's lower roof makes it easier to mount things. We tried a new Outback 3.6R previously and found the built in roof cross bars too narrow, the Nav was fussy and seats were very uncomfortable for long journeys. The Alltrack has been one of our families favorite cars in recent history and we regret that VW has no plan for a new Golf Wagon. Looking forward to a future replacement will be tough as the only options that may work are the Mini Countryman or Volvo V60.
So glad you guys posted this review. I was seriously looking into getting the sportwagen SEL 4motion as it literally comes with everything this car does, aside from the inch (roughly) lift, and the cladding. (Cleaner look in my opinion). I figure the killer for this amazing car is the brands own Tiguan. Not by my choice, though they are a nice Little SUV as well. Nathan, Get the car! If it feels right, and your gut is telling you to, has to be right. Maybe they'll bring back the Jetta Wagen in its place sometime.
I owned a 2019 S with the 6 speed manual. While it was quite a novelty at first, the whole “unicorn” status of having a turbo, AWD, wagon, with a stick shift that could travel on mild dirt was not enough for me to keep it. The biggest issue was the manual transmission wasn’t really all that great-1st and 2nd were too far apart, probably to have a lower ratio for dirt, and it did not like anything faster than a moderate speed shift. It’s still a compact wagon, so fine for 2 people on an adventure, too small even with a roof box for a family with 2 children. While the 1.8T was a great engine, it is underpowered in this application-the 2.0T with at least 220 hp would have been the better option. So unlike the many manual wagon fan boys that simply talk on the forums, I actually put my money down, and didn’t like it. Maybe there’s a reason after all that these don’t sell too well in the States.
I wanted to lease the Alltrack but the leasing price was horrible, meaning VW thought the value at the end of 3 years would be really low. Ended up getting an Outback, the MSRP was $3K more but my lease over $1K less. Have a feeling the Alltrack died because Outback is better for families and its cheaper. If you want performance you'd get a GTI or another hatchback. So the only market for this car would be singles or couples who wanted more trunk space and loved the Golf, which obviously isn't a large enough market for this car.
I had the tdi 2015 golf sportswagen with a 6 spd manual, routinely got 54mpg, loved it. . Was hoping to see the alltrack in tdi with a 6sp manual, that would have been one sweet set up, alas the diesel gate situation happen. Retired and sold it regrettably.
Had one of these. Very neat, handy vehicle. Of course, it took about 3 years to go through all of VW's fiddly, aggravating electronic issues, but I had a great dealer. You've been warned!
Gregory Wilkins would you mind sharing the issues? I had a 15 MK7 GTI for 4 years without issues especially electronics and I did some stuff that should have triggered some issues but they didn’t, mind you this was the first year of the MK7 in NA, I’m looking at AllTrack and it’s basically the same car with AWD and a smaller displacement. Cars can give you headaches or not, but I’m just curious about what went wrong with yours if you Don’t mind sharing
@@minibx6659 Door lock switch, gas cap lid servo, dsg shift programming, sunroof motor noise. I remember the dsg and gas cap lid issues because I just happened to be on trips when those happened.
@@minibx6659I'd say go for it. Bear in mind, after all that was done, she was faultless from that point on. Looked as good inside and out the day I let it go!
Someone I know had a Jetta TDI. The cost to replace the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) was more than the fuel savings..... The emission controls on the recent diesels are really expensive to fix if something goes wrong. Too many horror stories.
I had narrowed down my list of possible replacements for my 09 Mazda 6 to either a newer Mazda 6 or a Golf Sportwagen. After back to back test drives I was hooked on the Sportwagen (SWMBO even hooned it a bit to) and we were still gushing about it when my step-son came home that evening. He was uncharacteristically interested in our conversation and proclaimed he wanted a wagon. A few days later I took him to purchase the Sportwagen his mom and I test drove. Several months later I found a blue one with a clean history and 40k on the clock for 12,999... a "fixed" TDI. I bought it the same day it hit their inventory. That was nearly 2 years ago. My stepson LOVES his Sportwagen and I've converted mine into a DIY GTD Estate since we can't get them here in the U.S. My step-son and I are closer b/c we have both become wagon fanatics. Couldn't be happier.
I own a 2018 alltrack - put 50k miles on it in already - drive a lot in mountains/snow. I really like this car, the only thing I wish road noise was reduced - seems loud on highway.
Bought a manual SE yesterday. It’s the closest thing I could buy to the two 2003 Outback manuals I got rid of this year. To be fair, it’s not possible to remember how Outbacks felt when new but I think the 2019 AllTrack is quieter and has tighter handling out of the box. We’ll see how it ages. I hope this will give me 20+ years and well over 200kmi. of fun driving. Though not nearly in the same sportiness/performance class as the VW, I’ve gone well over 200 k with a 1978 Fairmont (first year for them), a 1986 Taurus MT5 (first year) and two 2003 manual Outbacks (both eventually developed transmission troubles). I have a 2001 T&C AWD van that’s now at about 160K, but that gets driven far less these days. Based on that and what enthusiasts say about VWs versus Fords and Chryslers, this should be a 300k+ car, right?😄 The VW is the first we have ever owned a car with enough engine to get out of its own way. I grew out of the “motor-head” stage before I was legally old enough to drive.
Hey all! Haha. I can see why Tommy hates the manual. He has grown up in a time where the automatics have better fuel economy and better acceleration. Basically (empirically) the automatics are the better transmission. The manual is considered as maybe a transmission you settle on, vs want. You can do better on a track with an automatic now as well, they are programmed to downshift and rev match on the downshift. The shifting happens in tenths of a second, you just can’t shift as fast in a manual. You have both hands on the wheel and are not having to think about what gear you are in (Formula One and Indy cars are automatics and are way faster now. In fact Indy cars were so good, they mandated the automatics and electronic traction aids be downgraded so the drivers, who were actually better drivers, could prove themselves!), you are not necessarily spinning out of a corner or going in, because you missed the shift. It just comes naturally that the automatic transmission is the way to go. I actually have thought this way since the late 80s. The manual does give you more of a driving experience, if you like shifting though. Much more even. Now the automatics can take on more torque and hp than the manuals as well. Ford GT500 for example. Didn’t have a manual that could handle the torque. (They claim). You could never match the speed with which the 7 speed dual clutch model they have in there shifts, it is basically the same transmission as in the GT. Your times in every aspect of performance driving will be better in the automatic in that car. Just a matter of physics and our physical capabilities. It would have better feel, for those that like the manuals though, if a 6+ speed manual was in there. A matter of perspectives and different circumstances than some of us older persons remember when you could call the automatics “slush boxes”. The shift was a slow as, or slower than, a person could shift a manual! Then,,,,,,,,, not now. In an awful and unfortunate way, you can’t text and drive as easily, (NOT TOMMY!) something that should result in huge fines and licences being suspended for long periods of time and chronic texting and driving subjects should face lifetime bans from driving. There are regions, States and Provinces even, where texting and driving kills and injures more people than impaired driving. That is in the number of proven causes. Many times it is hard to verify if the driver was texting, so the numbers will actually be higher. Even MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) are starting to target texting and driving. Sorry an important tangent ( I have lost a family member and a friend, both in separate accidents where someone texting while driving caused an accident that resulted in their deaths! Both times the driver that caused the accident while texting, lived!) . Everyone, please stay safe out there, Eh.
Wagons are more practical than SUVs but no one said Americans have common sense. We are obsessed with the dumbest types of cars. SUVs too small to actually SUV and trucks few people actually need. Wagons will make a comeback when CAFE standards make larger vehicles impossible to sell. Watch. Wait...I can have SUV cargo space while also getting car fuel economy and a skipad rating that is above .90Gs? Amazing!
If your going to buy a wagon, get the Buick. The AWD is great, Has a 2.0L turbo rated at 259 hp and has more space than the outback. Its super comfortable, really quick and drives amazing. Not to mention the new 2018 models that didn't sell are going for between $25,000-$30,000, well equipped.
My 2009 Outback (deliberately bought an older generation) was just in an accident, so I am looking around and test drove (and loved) the similar (plain) 2019 Golf SportWagen. I really liked that it was pretty basic, with not too many of the "beeps" and "bells" new cars have now. I've been driving for decades so don't necessarily appreciate the "back seat driver" that cars are being now. To me this is a smaller (cute) version of an Outback in many ways, but with a better price point and MUCH better acceleration. It's definitely on my short list if my Outback can't be repaired.
I have a 2017 Alltrack SEL that I bought in November of 2017. I am not a high mileage driver. I work from home. The car sees most of its miles on road trips. The only thing I'd caution people on is that lovely panoramic sunroof. I love mine. It was a big part of why I bought the SEL (which also has better seats tha the SE did), but in the online forums there are a lot of complaints about leaks. There was even a TSB issued for some VINs related to it. If you get a leaky one and 3 or 4 trips to the dealership don't fix it, VW seems to be hit or miss about whether they'll buy it back or not.
Your original video was one of the reasons we bought one. 2019 SEL 6 speed, Great Falls Green / Black (we wanted brown, ordered it in December, and by May we had convinced ourselves it had fallen into a black hole, and snagged the one with black interior on the lot at the dealer.) AFAIK, that car still hasn't shown up anywhere (I have a google alert set for the VIN).
I just bought a Golf Alltrack today! Traded in my Golf Station wagon (which I Loved), except that I could no longer deal with the dog hair and the cloth seats! So Golf Alltrack S with leatherette seats will be coming home with me on Monday! Yay!
I'm torn between the Alltrack and the Tourx, as well. I do have two kids and the added rear seat space in the Buick would come in handy for longer trips (my 15 year old is already 5'8"). Then I drove an Alltrack SE with the manual today and think the kids can suck it up and deal with the cramped quarters so I can have my fun. Sadly, the only Buick dealer within hours of me hasn't even had a TourX to see for at least six months so I like that car based just on reviews vs. personal seat time. I hope to drive one soon... with $8k in rebates it's very tempting. Does anyone know if GM will kill the Regal and TourX like VW has the sportwagon?
I believe you also owned a Mazda 5 minivan back in the day, I did too and that was an excellent family vehicle. For that reason, I believe you should BUY the Jetta Alltrack wagon. Not lease,it. Buy it and keep it forever. You will enjoy it even a decade from now. Especially in Colorado where it fits in perfectly with a turbocharged engine and awd. BUY IT!! DONT REGRET IT!! BUY IT ANS KEEP IT.
I like my 2017 Alltrack...BUT...start looking into some of the related cost of repair of parts/labor that eventually need replacement and it becomes less like and more loath. For instance replace a water pump (with plastic housing) the part is certainly cheap enough around $60 but to have it done in a shop (almost mandatory) the cost soars to around $1200 because it's buried under so much you have to remove the intake and pretty much everything on the front part of the engine to get to it! So much for VW engineering. Or how about the required cleaning of the back of intake valves anywhere from $500 up that's something that has to be done every 35k-60k miles due to it being direct injection and the back side of the valves get all coated with carbon build-up.The water pump will need replacement as early as 30kmi so keep that in mind. Then you've got the standard DSG transmission fluid and filter change at 40kmi around $450 Haldex rear diff around $150 at 30kmi Bottom line it's not a cheap car to maintain. Many of these items are the same for most Golfs gas engines w/DSG. It's a nice car to drive but the cost of ownership is $$$. Just keep a couple thousand dollars in your piggy bank for this maintenance because we'll need it...eventually.
Looked for either an Alltrack or a Sportwagen with manual transmission for several months in 2017. There none to be had - every one in three states had an AutoMagic. Finally settled for '17 Golf GTI Sport with the six-speed manual at an end of year price. Though I continue to be sanely in love with the GTI, there is still a sort of wistful wondering what a manual shift Alltrack would have been like.
I absolutely love my 2018 top spec Alltrack. Bought it brand new. Went from my Mercedes E550(A total rocket) down to a dog friendly wagon. 4matic sucks to drive in snow so the decision to dump the rocket was made easier. Handles better than the Merc but lacks the seat pinning thrust.. Really is a great vehicle. 0
I recently had one of these wagons as a rental, with the DSG automatic. I absolutely loved it, but wished it had the six speed manual. Terrific car, sad to hear it's being phased out.
If my knee didnt pin my hand/knock my hand off the wheel, I would have bought one. I'm 6'5. Now I wait for the day I convert my Tiguan (4Motion) to manual! Where'd you find a wife that prefers "standard shift"?
Just got an SE with the diver's assistance and appearance package. White on brown with the manual. I'm loving it. I also have a MK6 GTI, and the Alltrack is almost as much fun to drive as that is!
I test drove the 2019 SEL and the steering column completely blocked my egress when the steering wheel and seats were adjusted. For reference I am 5'2".
I've got a 2015 Sportwagen. Under the floor in the trunk, there are hidden compartments. I removed the structure that makes them so I was able to lower the trunk floor by nearly 10 cm allowing more cargo to fit in. I carry my suitcases vertically now, something you can't do in an Outback for example. My car is a TDI with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and it allows the engine to deliver its power straight away. To my point of view, the DSG decreases the pleasure of driving such a good car.
Seriously considering one of these for myself...I have twin 9 year old boys and my wife is fine with a manual transmission. However, I'm 6' 4" and fit better in crossovers even though I'd rather have a wagon. What's up with Tommy hating the stick in the VW?
Buy the car. She likes it. It fits what she is looking for. We have a 2017 Alltrack and have had no significant problems with it. Just over 90K on the clock.
I don't know if you bought one of these or not. I am hoping that you did. I am going to be picking one up. I have found a new one. Not the color that I wanted but it does have the MANUAL TRANSMISSION! In the SE trim. Can't wait for this week to pick it up!
One thing he forgot to mention is that you can tow a little bit with the Crosstrek and quite a bit with the Outback, but not at all with the Golf Alltrack. So, in that narrow sense, it is not at all between the Crosstrek and Outback.
Almost bought a sel in silk blue/black interior and it was a hoot to drive. But I decided to upgrade into a Tiguan sel premium in the same exterior color. Both my wife and I needed something higher to ease entrance and exit. If your wife really likes it, let her buy it. It’s a great little wagon!
Take your own advice and buy it. (if you can afford too) Because you love it(mostly) your wife you say would love it. Your bargaining price power is there. And who knows, down the road if and when you are ready to get out of it, it might be a collectors dream. A journalists loved vehicle should be purchased and driven. I used to love OLD wagons from the 70's and 80's. As uncool as it was for a teen to drive, I found them VERY practical. For a variety of scenarios. Camping out in. Large groups of friends going to the lakes.. etc. Now everything is vans, cross overs, SUV's. Which is fine for todays society.
We have this car in Australia but VW don’t do a manual for it. Absolutely agree that Wagons are better to drive. I’ve had a Skoda Octavia vRS (based on VW golf wagon) for 5 years since new and I think I love it more now than when I bought it. It’s just so much fun to drive, and so practical. When it’s time to replace the Skoda the VW golf Alltrack is top of my list. Fingers crossed VW do the MK8 with a plug in hybrid.
I have a Golf Sportwagen and a Regal Tourx, the Golf is quite a bit sportier and smaller than the Regal. The Regal is my favorite for any kind of long drives or kid hauling. The Golf is my favorite to just drive to work. A loaded Regal TourX Essense is such a great bargain right now. The only reason to not get the Buick would be if you HAD to have the manual. The Regal 8 speed auto is good enough to me, although my Golf is a stick shift and that is fun. It plays to its lighter/smaller character. Overall, i am very happy with both wagons.
My wife bought new last summer a 2018 AllTrack SEL loaded Green (like the video) with Black and DSG. And got 5K off sticker! I assume the same is happening now. I told her we can never get rid of it. It gets positive feedback at Cars and Coffee. How many green wagons (or anything) do you see....ever!?
Watch out for the sunroof, is for sure that will have problems at any time, no matter if is new or old, you will have problems. Mine have problems since new with water leaks.
It's great for families of two. Backseat is too small. Looked at one a few years back and bought an Xterra instead. If your single or just two people, nice car.
Six years and 125000 km ago we had our Golf Alltrack TSI DSG delivered from the factory. Absolutely love the car.
Best purchase I have ever made!!!!!!! I purchased a 2019 Alltrack SEL 6spd manual, fully loaded on 12/16/2019. I came out of a 2017 RAM 1500 Sport V8 4WD. I will miss my truck, but this Alltrack 4Motion makes me quickly forget about my previous gas guzzler, and fulfills all of my utility needs. The safety system I am surrounded with speaks volumes, being the majority my daily commute is all highway, 70 miles round trip per day. The manual shift is very smooth, and the clutch has just enough tension to feel super sporty. I have a tendency to be a lead foot, so be careful with the effortless get up and go in the Alltrack. And, if I mind my manners on the highway, I am getting 32-33 mpg, vs. the 17-19 mpg I was getting in my RAM 1500. A big transitional savings for my wallet. I can not speak highly enough about the Alltrack. I am very satisfied with my purchase, and am looking forward to many years of endless smiles in my new Alltrack. LOL, seeing 12/2019 was the last production month prompted me to make my purchase very quick!
Wagons are much more practical then suvs
Luis Lopez I agree! I can’t stand SUV’s, and hate they they are so popular. If it wasn’t for their popularity, we’d have a lot more wagons choices. Americans have terrible taste in vehicles.
clothestravel yes!!! I own a Volvo wagon and it’s so much easier to drive then a big o SUV it’s pointless having that much car for very little unlike wagons.
clothestravel So, if you watched this review, you saw that he didn’t have much room in the backseat and he’s not overly tall. Also, yes, the wagon is AWD, but there is no way it could handle the amount of snow we’ve received the last couple of years in Minnesota. Although I like Volkswagen and Audi-especially the Q7 and Allroad-I’ll keep my SUV (2005 Mitsubishi Montero Limited) that still fits all of my kids (4) and has a true 4wd system which defeats the snow every time and goes farther off-road than both.
Sonny Mercado honestly they are spacious I test drive one and there just massive the cargo isn’t mind blowing but it is respectable! My girl is getting one and i couldn’t approve more they might tackle good snow with some good tires just wish they where slightly lifted more
@@thebeast9606 the problem with your snow related statement is i also live in minnesota and drive a mazda 6 fwd and it has handled the snow fine and i also have to remove snow where i work so i travel in the worst conditions.
Bought one a couple weeks ago - love it.
Just got mine last week! Hell of a car! I got the manual, and the clutch is so much more substantial than my 5 speed Jetta.
Does the sunroof leak?
@@buildmorefarms1007 I doubt it would start leaking for many years like 10 plus years.
I love a wagon. Drivin one myself! (A 350hp one) no sedan or hot hatch will ever compete with it.
A hot wagon looks good, is practical for a family and is insanely quick too. Its the best of motoring
Damn, what tune are you running on there?
Polestar?
Just bought the 2019 Alltrack in November and I love it!!! And I am a total car girl, wanted the all wheel drive, comfort and sport handling, also I am getting 33 mpg highway!! Would definitely recommend this car! Got to love a sport wagon!
Hi Nathan! I live in Mexico City, even higher than Colorado and the turbo engines make the difference! Definitely go for it! I can see it in your eyes! You love the Allttack and you have the experience to know the great design it is! I used to have a SEAT Freetrack (you don't get it in the US) for 98 thousand km without a problem. It has the same powertrain but in 2.0 liter size. Go for it!
Don't they manufacture these in Mexico now? My '18 Golf is straight out of Puebla.
I had a 2013 Sportwagon TDI loved it. Looking at the 2018 to 2019 Alltrack now to buy. Sad such a good car is going to be gone soon. You guys make great reviews keep it up.
3 weeks ago, I bought a 2019 Golf Alltrack, manual. I could not be happier with or more excited about the car! This is not my first VW, but it reminds me of my first purchase, a 1996 Passat VR6 - it was a beast and went more than 100K on one clutch. All the reviews of this car, and I think I've seen them all, lead me to believe I may have found another gem. Thanks for the thorough review! Great channel. Farfegnugen!
I just purchased an 2019 Alltrack with the DSG and I love it! I got my super cheap too (I only got the S trim however) but it still has a lot of features especially coming from a 2009 Toyota 4runner. My only complaint is that it's not meant for the city or heavy suburban areas as the stop and go traffic I deal with tanks its MPG rating.
If you like it, buy it! I have a 2017 Alltrack that I purchased new and still love.
Same, it's a great car and gets really decent road trip mileage. Usually 32 if without the cargo box, 28 with it.
Have you had many problems with it?
@@DoctorSkillz None. I don't put a ton of miles of my cars; only 7500 per year or so, but my 2017 Alltrack has been flawless. I also routinely get compliments on the ride quality from people who drive crossovers. The added suspension lift over the Sportwagon really does wonders for the ride.
Have a 2018 Alltrack mostly due to reviews ive seen on this channel and other review channels and I absolutely love it
it's a good looking car imo and with that 1.8t engine it's a great pick, with 4Motion you can't really go wrong with the car!
Just bought a 2019 Alltrack SEL a month ago, I love it!
I have the 2018 top spec as well and I love it.
Me too! couldn't be happier
Still happy? There are some killer deals on these now.
Is the sunroof leaking yet?
@@Monkeyseemonkey79 Mine has been through a hurricane with no problems.
Totally agree. Just bought a 2019 Alltrack for "She Who Must Be Obeyed." And she is VERY HAPPY!! Bought the Base trim with the automatic transmission, but still a lot of fun to drive. It's nicely appointed and has most of the necessary modern safety technology. It replaced a 20 year old VW Passat Wagon with a manual transmission, which she loved . . . but she's getting on in years and I convinced her that with slowing reflexes etc. an automatic is a better bet. She wanted a small wagon . . . didn't like any of the compact SUV's we looked at. This one definitely met all the requirements . . . drives great and looks good. Advice to potential buyers . . . Strike while the iron is hot . . . there's limited supply. But we got a very good deal.
The Passat Wagen was so cute
I've owned a 2018 SE for just over a year now. Overall it's a great vehicle. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a primary family vehicle for those who have older (teenager) kids, as back seat leg room is just a bit lacking. However, for those with smaller kids or for use as a secondary vehicle - it's perfect. I will say it's extremely frustrating that Americans have such a fascination with SUVs/CUVs, because a wagon (or as VW calls it - wagen) like the Alltrack would suit so many peoples needs just fine. BTW, I'm getting 28mpg combined with mine on good old regular unleaded (no need for premium).
PS: I'd be happy to visit you guys for a "Dude, I love (or hate) my ride" segment. I'm down in Parker, CO.
the fascination with suv/cuv you answered in your first sentence....(back seat leg room is lacking)! also...better options than suv/cuv were the toyota versa and and the honda crosstour.. they were also disc. rather quickly!....the thing all 3 of these had in common?? way over priced compared to rav4 and crv
@@davechurch1661 I wanted an Alltrack but the list price was so much over the Tiguan I bought, I'd rather own a sedan with 4Motion oh well too late now, I didn't realize the dealers were offering them so much under listed price.
We still have our beloved 2001 Passat wagon, which addresses the rear legroom shortage.
They should import the passat variant instead, way bigger leg room. I have no idea why VW chose this model over it
@@kevinlin7674 Ask the man who owns both. The 1998-2005 Passat variant/wagon, built on a stretched Audi A4 platform, was the perfect car, only 3 inches longer than the 7th gen. Sportwagen, yet having noticeably more rear seat legroom and cargo space. As I look at the two in my garage, I always wonder, "Where did the interior space go?" The current Passat is a bit big for my tastes, and the Americanized version leaves much to be desired. I would have liked to see VW continue with the next generation Golf Sportwagen in addition to a proper Eurospec Passat variant. By offering the A4 and A6 Allroads and the RS6 Avant in the US, Audi almost understands that although wagons have only a niche following, it is arguably the single most loyal niche in the entire spectrum of car buyers.
I just bought a SEL after seeing this. Thank guys totally in love with it.
LOVE mine. Found a 2019 SEL with 10k miles, same color interior. I like that you don't see many 😊
I just found one with 29K miles on it for 21K US.
We bought one about a month ago, just as in the video but with DSG. Extremely pleased with it. Been on road trips already, about 3000 miles. Nathan's comments we find to be accurate. Great driver, loads of space, super comfortable, great value. Nathan, go get one! BTW, what about the APR upgrades????
Bought a new 2018 SE manual with gray exterior and brown interior for $25K off the lot. Have had it for about 16 months now and 25K miles later - one of the best cars I've ever owned. Fun to drive, practical, great gas mileage (31mpg avg.), great on a long road trip or back road twisty, and man that panoramic sunroof...beautiful. I've owned 3 BMW 3-series, a Miata, Saab 9-3 Aero, and Mazda3 - this car has got to be my favorite in terms of overall offerings, style, and its fun to drive nature on top of that. Wish I could have gotten the SEL with a manual in 2018, but I can live without the tech distractions.
Did the sunroof leak?
buildmorefarms100 as a matter of fact, about 4 months ago there was a terrible leak from the sunroof that left me with a gallon of water in the spare tire well. I went to the dealer and they told me I should have had the lines cleaned out...when there’s no mention of it in the manual anywhere, nor can you do it yourself, it’s about a $150 job. Still trying to figure out a way to restore my headliner. A drawback that VW really needs to address.
@@rubengaytan5350 Thank you for your honest reply, sorry to hear that! I want one but too many people have this problem.
Hi Nathan, I got a 2017 VW SE alltrack just like the one in you test, except for the DCT, which I also love. This is my third VW with a DSG (DCT) Transmission. Never had a problem with any of them. I highly recommend the car. Your right about the Discounting. I got $8,000 of the MSRP. ( I bought it in 2018, it was a 2017 leftover with only 90 miles on the odometer.
We got a great deal on a 2017 Alltrack (AT) last year and it is a great car! Handles great (for a car that sits about 1inch higher than the standard sportwagon), although the ride is on the firmer side (a trade off i don't mind). Power is not bad and the delivery is smooth (as mentioned in the video). It is economical - it does ~45(uk)mpg which is what I used to get in my 01 Golf GTI (1.8t 150bhp), considering that the AT is a heavier car and it has AWD. It just goes to show how great the TSI engine really is. The look of the car still gets me every time, still after nearly 1 year of owning it!! So after a nearly a year of ownership, here are some of the things that I 'wish' for a) a bit more power b) it was a diesel (i think these are only available in Europe? certainly not in Canada!) c) either manual transmission OR paddle shift (unfortunately neither were available as an option in Canada afaik). Despite these things I still love the car and I don't regret a thing! even the OH loves driving it, and she is not into cars! I know tuning these cars is not hard and I could source a steering wheel with paddle shift easily. but honestly, I don't mind driving it as it is at the moment!
I have a 2018 Sportwagen with 4motion and dsg. I'm averaging 34 mpg and it cruises 70mph at around 40mpg. I even used it to deliver mail once. A perfect balance of fun/practicality
I loved my '15 Golf Wagon. I can't believe they are killing them off already 😭
Chris C because of sales number
I thought they were just discontinuing it in the US?
@@12skits63 Yes it's only in the US the model is canceled.
Here in the EU they will stil be sold, in Sweden wagons sell like hot cakes. ;)
Roger Bengtsson Because y’all are smart, unlike here 😂
It's because nobody wants it without the TDI.
My wife got a 2017 Alltrack with a manual after we did the diesel buyback on her 2009 Jetta Sportwagen. There is a storage area below the light switch where I keep my wallet. There is also a small drawer underneath the driver's seat. My wife commutes from outside of Denver and spends half of that time in Denver traffic jams. Over 50k miles she has averaged 29 mpg. Go with the S model and avoid the panoramic sunroof! You save a lot of money, get a much quieter and more pleasant ride, more headroom, and never get sunroof leakage and breakage failures. The current price for one at Emich in Denver is $23.4 including the $600 dealer fee. Alltracks are a thrill to drive in snow.
drwisdom1 The SEL trim line does not have the drawer under the driver’s seat.
@@kirsten.mogensen The SEL is the loaded model so it should have everything the lesser models have. Maybe VW eliminated it sometime after 2017. The seat drawer is not very tall and doesn't hold much. I don't use it and forgot about it until I saw this video.
@@drwisdom1 I'm telling you. The SEL does NOT, nor ever had, the drawer under the driver's seat. I have a 2016 SEL. There is NO drawer.
drwisdom1 Where exactly is her commute? I had a Passat Wagon FWD in Denver and main problem with snow was not traction as much as ground clearance. But it happened twice in eleven years. Nevertheless extra two inches can help some. Tires are the main equalizer. Snow tires that is.
@@jamesmedina2062 We live in Conifer at 8600 feet and can get 2 to 3 feet of snow at one time. The only problem is our driveway is uphill and fwd sometimes can't get moving if it has iced. The Alltrack acts like it is dry pavement. The roads get plowed quickly and the Sun melts it fast so clearance has never been a problem for our Alltrack, Sportwagen, and GTI. We drive on dirt roads all the time but don't go offroad. How did you see and reply to this message? I can't see them anymore.
I have a 2020 model here in the U.K. one of the last ones available before the new Mk8 model came out. Love the way it goes 2.0 TDI 7- Speed DSG 182bhp 380NM Torque! It’s a very nice car.
I came across your channel a while back when starting our car search to replace my wife’s ‘06 Mazda 3 5-Door manual (we purchased it off the trailer when released) and are sad to see it go. Well...today we bought the VW Alltrack SEL Manual and now we’re a two wagon (2nd car is a 3-series estate) family (boys 8 & 6 are getting bigger and more active). We live and work in the city-urban area of the Twin Cities and appreciate the maneuverability and functionality a wagon provides, especially with roof rails. Thanks for the reviews!
I have the Sportwagen with 4motion and DSG. I live in New Brunswick Canada and can attest that these wagons are GREAT in the snow. I have also owned an Audi A4 and a Mercedes CClass and can say with confidence that the Sportwagen is much better on twisty roads and I don't see much difference in terms of acceleration between it and the Audi and Mercedes
Nathan, I have a 2018 and it's my favorite car of all time. I've had many vehicles including 3 Acura TL's, mdx, s2000, Subaru wrx etc and none of the above measure with the alltrack. Strongly recommend this vehicle, it is exciting every time I drive it.
We will be driving to CO from IL in September as we've been doing for the last 12 years or so, 4 times a year (hoping to move out to CO some day) cant wait to try the 1.8tsi in the mountains.
Tha k you for this review, these wagons deserve more props than they get.
Plus, you reviewed this car multiple times - partially why I ended up buying it - and you loved it every time hahah
One of the best cars I have ever owned. I have a fully loaded 2017 with a Level #1 APR tune. This car literally does everything exceptionally well ... on regular gas!
Got mine. Pissed that dumb car companies insist on being so narrow-minded as to not offer alternatives to the stupid SUV obsession of the market.
Your wife good sir is a freakn' hero for being into manuals still. Good for her! Great review Nathan. I am still loving my 15 month old Mk7 Jetta S and my 8 week old GLI both with manual trans, great cars. I think VW might have me for the rest of my days now....
I just bought a 2019 Alltrack SE and love it. Traded a 2012 Sportwagen TDI. When I test drove the manual transmission, it felt like it had no power at all. At least compared to the TDI. Then I drove a DSG, and it went like a rocket. I told the salesman, and he agreed. I went home with the DSG.
Amazing used car value. Just bought a 2018 Sportwagen with sunroof/leatherette/8' touch screen certified pre-owned with 26K KMs for 19995$ CAD. Now I have a unicorn fleet with a 2016 Outback 6 spd manual. Love them both. One handles and has better tech, the other has personality, size and is very comfortable on road trips.
Great BUY 👍
I have a 2017 SEL dsg model I bought after my 2.5L 5cyl Jetta sportwagen was totalled.
It's been a great vehicle and I have 40k plus on in less than 2 years.
I bought a S model and love it. I have a new job where I am putting a lot of miles on the car and it is a solid daily driver. Definitely an improvement over a crossover or cross trek. Manual is a plus. Price was great. 22,100 with tax and title.
Storage,
I have a '15 Sportwagen SE purchased new and the door pockets are massive. Right of steering storage, arm rest, glove box, under driver seat drawer, under pass seat storage. With sun roof you lose the eyeglass storage and tons of storage areas in rear.
I think it's great for storage.
Amazing performance 6sp auto with paddle shifters, handling, ecomony have gotten 39mpg on road trip. and has been reliable so far. Couple recall items, never broke down.
I love the classy look of mine too. White with tinted windows, Yakima roof bars, 17 inch rims, Fender stereo is really great! Like the sleeper aspect.
Great car! Smile every time I see or drive it.
I have the exact car you had in the video. Just road tripped to Maine, it was awesome. I get lots of compliments on the Green exterior with Marrakesh interior. Reminds of my Audi A4 I used to have. Love the manual transmission. Buy it!
2018/2019 VW models come with the 6 year/72k bumper-to-bumper warranty too.
that’s a good thing, because with VW reliability you will need it!
@@emmcey I hear you, but I'd rather own a car I enjoy and potentially sacrifice some reliability over driving a super boring but supremely reliable vehicle.
do you guys look at Consumer Reports ? VW is right in the middle these days... so is Honda
@@jobot resale values are the only thing that matters to tell you how reliable a car is, and VW resale values still suck.
@@jobot Yes because the Odyssey is pretty bad. Others like the Civic and Accord are fairly reliable. Let's face it for reliability you think a Jetta is better than a Civic?
In my case I was very fortunate to grab a brand new 2016 Sportwagen TDi SE, they offer very limited quantities in Mexico . City driving 33MPG, Highway 42-45 MPG .Great car and no issues after 2 years ownership.
Purchased the first one my dealer got back in the fall of 2016 (2017 Model) We got the SEL w/ Lighting and Driver Assistance Pkgs. I can say that after 60k miles the Alltrack has been a great car. Year 2 we had a warranty claim for a leaking water pump and post warranty we needed a new battery, pretty minor for 3 yrs of ownership. As an active family who sails and kayak's the wagon makes more sense as it's lower roof makes it easier to mount things. We tried a new Outback 3.6R previously and found the built in roof cross bars too narrow, the Nav was fussy and seats were very uncomfortable for long journeys. The Alltrack has been one of our families favorite cars in recent history and we regret that VW has no plan for a new Golf Wagon. Looking forward to a future replacement will be tough as the only options that may work are the Mini Countryman or Volvo V60.
In Germany, they have a Passat & Volvo PHEV Wagons. I would love that in the US.
So glad you guys posted this review. I was seriously looking into getting the sportwagen SEL 4motion as it literally comes with everything this car does, aside from the inch (roughly) lift, and the cladding. (Cleaner look in my opinion). I figure the killer for this amazing car is the brands own Tiguan. Not by my choice, though they are a nice Little SUV as well. Nathan, Get the car! If it feels right, and your gut is telling you to, has to be right. Maybe they'll bring back the Jetta Wagen in its place sometime.
I have a 2019 AT SE DSG. Lowered it and added 19” Rotiforms and other fun stuff. Love it. Did you buy one, Straight Pipes???
I owned a 2019 S with the 6 speed manual. While it was quite a novelty at first, the whole “unicorn” status of having a turbo, AWD, wagon, with a stick shift that could travel on mild dirt was not enough for me to keep it.
The biggest issue was the manual transmission wasn’t really all that great-1st and 2nd were too far apart, probably to have a lower ratio for dirt, and it did not like anything faster than a moderate speed shift. It’s still a compact wagon, so fine for 2 people on an adventure, too small even with a roof box for a family with 2 children. While the 1.8T was a great engine, it is underpowered in this application-the 2.0T with at least 220 hp would have been the better option.
So unlike the many manual wagon fan boys that simply talk on the forums, I actually put my money down, and didn’t like it. Maybe there’s a reason after all that these don’t sell too well in the States.
I went dsg for this reason and went apr now pulling high 4s 0-60. This car needs a little help to get it to where it should have been.
I wanted to lease the Alltrack but the leasing price was horrible, meaning VW thought the value at the end of 3 years would be really low. Ended up getting an Outback, the MSRP was $3K more but my lease over $1K less. Have a feeling the Alltrack died because Outback is better for families and its cheaper. If you want performance you'd get a GTI or another hatchback. So the only market for this car would be singles or couples who wanted more trunk space and loved the Golf, which obviously isn't a large enough market for this car.
I had the tdi 2015 golf sportswagen with a 6 spd manual, routinely got 54mpg, loved it. . Was hoping to see the alltrack in tdi with a 6sp manual, that would have been one sweet set up, alas the diesel gate situation happen. Retired and sold it regrettably.
I'm in still in love with my TDi Jetta Sportwagen. Only thing I wish it had was AWD but it's not something I need.
Same here, would have been nice to see VW roll that version out. Had not the dieselgate issue cropped up we would have had it all.
Had one of these. Very neat, handy vehicle. Of course, it took about 3 years to go through all of VW's fiddly, aggravating electronic issues, but I had a great dealer. You've been warned!
Gregory Wilkins would you mind sharing the issues? I had a 15 MK7 GTI for 4 years without issues especially electronics and I did some stuff that should have triggered some issues but they didn’t, mind you this was the first year of the MK7 in NA, I’m looking at AllTrack and it’s basically the same car with AWD and a smaller displacement. Cars can give you headaches or not, but I’m just curious about what went wrong with yours if you
Don’t mind sharing
@@minibx6659 Door lock switch, gas cap lid servo, dsg shift programming, sunroof motor noise. I remember the dsg and gas cap lid issues because I just happened to be on trips when those happened.
Gregory Wilkins thanks for the reply. Loved the GTI and regret selling it , I’ll be getting an AllTrack next , thanks for the heads ups
@@minibx6659I'd say go for it. Bear in mind, after all that was done, she was faultless from that point on. Looked as good inside and out the day I let it go!
They have a 4motion with a manual and no sunroof sitting in the showroom here. If it was a TDI I'd grab it.
You can get a 2015 Golf TDI Sportwagen.
if it was a TDI it wouldn’t be sitting in the showroom
@@korykelsey4364 did you fail to read the important part about it being a 4motion?
What I really want is a 15 tdi sel with manual and no sunroof. Something that was not sold in the USA
Someone I know had a Jetta TDI. The cost to replace the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) was more than the fuel savings..... The emission controls on the recent diesels are really expensive to fix if something goes wrong. Too many horror stories.
I had narrowed down my list of possible replacements for my 09 Mazda 6 to either a newer Mazda 6 or a Golf Sportwagen. After back to back test drives I was hooked on the Sportwagen (SWMBO even hooned it a bit to) and we were still gushing about it when my step-son came home that evening. He was uncharacteristically interested in our conversation and proclaimed he wanted a wagon. A few days later I took him to purchase the Sportwagen his mom and I test drove. Several months later I found a blue one with a clean history and 40k on the clock for 12,999... a "fixed" TDI. I bought it the same day it hit their inventory. That was nearly 2 years ago. My stepson LOVES his Sportwagen and I've converted mine into a DIY GTD Estate since we can't get them here in the U.S. My step-son and I are closer b/c we have both become wagon fanatics. Couldn't be happier.
How do you convert an AT to a GTD?
I'm so jealous your "she-who-must-be-obeyed" wants a manual trans! :0
My mom got a 2019 with the 6 spd brand new a few months ago. It's a blast to drive!
Buy it. Best car on the market for 94% of people's real world use cases.
I own a 2018 alltrack - put 50k miles on it in already - drive a lot in mountains/snow. I really like this car, the only thing I wish road noise was reduced - seems loud on highway.
I’ve been driving mine for about a year, absolutely adore it.
Bought a manual SE yesterday. It’s the closest thing I could buy to the two 2003 Outback manuals I got rid of this year. To be fair, it’s not possible to remember how Outbacks felt when new but I think the 2019 AllTrack is quieter and has tighter handling out of the box. We’ll see how it ages. I hope this will give me 20+ years and well over 200kmi. of fun driving. Though not nearly in the same sportiness/performance class as the VW, I’ve gone well over 200 k with a 1978 Fairmont (first year for them), a 1986 Taurus MT5 (first year) and two 2003 manual Outbacks (both eventually developed transmission troubles). I have a 2001 T&C AWD van that’s now at about 160K, but that gets driven far less these days. Based on that and what enthusiasts say about VWs versus Fords and Chryslers, this should be a 300k+ car, right?😄
The VW is the first we have ever owned a car with enough engine to get out of its own way. I grew out of the “motor-head” stage before I was legally old enough to drive.
Buy it Nathan!!!! Come on man! You’re convincing me to get one!
The golf Sportwagen is amazing, I think the last manual wagon in America
Pretty much, unless you count the Subaru Crosstrek.
CJ T nah just a lifted hatch, now with the golf dead the only manual wagon is the fwd mini clubman which is too small for my liking
You can still get a Subaru Impreza as a manual wagon, but not with a turbo engine (which I consider a necessity for dealing with mountainous regions).
Hey all! Haha.
I can see why Tommy hates the manual. He has grown up in a time where the automatics have better fuel economy and better acceleration. Basically (empirically) the automatics are the better transmission. The manual is considered as maybe a transmission you settle on, vs want.
You can do better on a track with an automatic now as well, they are programmed to downshift and rev match on the downshift. The shifting happens in tenths of a second, you just can’t shift as fast in a manual. You have both hands on the wheel and are not having to think about what gear you are in (Formula One and Indy cars are automatics and are way faster now. In fact Indy cars were so good, they mandated the automatics and electronic traction aids be downgraded so the drivers, who were actually better drivers, could prove themselves!), you are not necessarily spinning out of a corner or going in, because you missed the shift.
It just comes naturally that the automatic transmission is the way to go. I actually have thought this way since the late 80s. The manual does give you more of a driving experience, if you like shifting though. Much more even. Now the automatics can take on more torque and hp than the manuals as well. Ford GT500 for example. Didn’t have a manual that could handle the torque. (They claim). You could never match the speed with which the 7 speed dual clutch model they have in there shifts, it is basically the same transmission as in the GT. Your times in every aspect of performance driving will be better in the automatic in that car. Just a matter of physics and our physical capabilities. It would have better feel, for those that like the manuals though, if a 6+ speed manual was in there.
A matter of perspectives and different circumstances than some of us older persons remember when you could call the automatics “slush boxes”. The shift was a slow as, or slower than, a person could shift a manual! Then,,,,,,,,, not now.
In an awful and unfortunate way, you can’t text and drive as easily, (NOT TOMMY!) something that should result in huge fines and licences being suspended for long periods of time and chronic texting and driving subjects should face lifetime bans from driving. There are regions, States and Provinces even, where texting and driving kills and injures more people than impaired driving. That is in the number of proven causes. Many times it is hard to verify if the driver was texting, so the numbers will actually be higher. Even MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) are starting to target texting and driving. Sorry an important tangent ( I have lost a family member and a friend, both in separate accidents where someone texting while driving caused an accident that resulted in their deaths! Both times the driver that caused the accident while texting, lived!) .
Everyone, please stay safe out there, Eh.
Buy it Nathan! These cool little wagons and especially manual transmissions are almost gone. Last chance!
Wagons are more practical than SUVs but no one said Americans have common sense. We are obsessed with the dumbest types of cars. SUVs too small to actually SUV and trucks few people actually need. Wagons will make a comeback when CAFE standards make larger vehicles impossible to sell. Watch.
Wait...I can have SUV cargo space while also getting car fuel economy and a skipad rating that is above .90Gs? Amazing!
Get it for her...she will like it..thanks for video Nathan..i used to have 84 Buick Electra wagon..wagons are cool.
If your going to buy a wagon, get the Buick. The AWD is great, Has a 2.0L turbo rated at 259 hp and has more space than the outback. Its super comfortable, really quick and drives amazing. Not to mention the new 2018 models that didn't sell are going for between $25,000-$30,000, well equipped.
But don't all Buicks fall apart after 50k miles?
My 2009 Outback (deliberately bought an older generation) was just in an accident, so I am looking around and test drove (and loved) the similar (plain) 2019 Golf SportWagen. I really liked that it was pretty basic, with not too many of the "beeps" and "bells" new cars have now. I've been driving for decades so don't necessarily appreciate the "back seat driver" that cars are being now. To me this is a smaller (cute) version of an Outback in many ways, but with a better price point and MUCH better acceleration. It's definitely on my short list if my Outback can't be repaired.
I have a 2017 Alltrack SEL that I bought in November of 2017. I am not a high mileage driver. I work from home. The car sees most of its miles on road trips. The only thing I'd caution people on is that lovely panoramic sunroof. I love mine. It was a big part of why I bought the SEL (which also has better seats tha the SE did), but in the online forums there are a lot of complaints about leaks. There was even a TSB issued for some VINs related to it. If you get a leaky one and 3 or 4 trips to the dealership don't fix it, VW seems to be hit or miss about whether they'll buy it back or not.
My wife an I love our 2016 golf wagon sad to see them go
I am considering to upgrade my 2008 Dodge Magnum SXT AWD for a newer AWD wagon. Alltrack is on the list.
Your original video was one of the reasons we bought one. 2019 SEL 6 speed, Great Falls Green / Black (we wanted brown, ordered it in December, and by May we had convinced ourselves it had fallen into a black hole, and snagged the one with black interior on the lot at the dealer.) AFAIK, that car still hasn't shown up anywhere (I have a google alert set for the VIN).
I just bought a Golf Alltrack today! Traded in my Golf Station wagon (which I Loved), except that I could no longer deal with the dog hair and the cloth seats! So Golf Alltrack S with leatherette seats will be coming home with me on Monday! Yay!
Get the AllTrak before it goes away, it'll be a great car.
taking this as a sign to buy the one i’m scheduled to test drive tomorrow. thank you
@@Livwitt Did you buy it?
BUY ONE.... I love my wife's 2017 alltrack with the brown interior
I'm torn between the Alltrack and the Tourx, as well. I do have two kids and the added rear seat space in the Buick would come in handy for longer trips (my 15 year old is already 5'8"). Then I drove an Alltrack SE with the manual today and think the kids can suck it up and deal with the cramped quarters so I can have my fun. Sadly, the only Buick dealer within hours of me hasn't even had a TourX to see for at least six months so I like that car based just on reviews vs. personal seat time. I hope to drive one soon... with $8k in rebates it's very tempting. Does anyone know if GM will kill the Regal and TourX like VW has the sportwagon?
Yes, the Regal and TourX are dead.
I believe you also owned a Mazda 5 minivan back in the day, I did too and that was an excellent family vehicle. For that reason, I believe you should BUY the Jetta Alltrack wagon. Not lease,it. Buy it and keep it forever. You will enjoy it even a decade from now. Especially in Colorado where it fits in perfectly with a turbocharged engine and awd. BUY IT!! DONT REGRET IT!! BUY IT ANS KEEP IT.
I like my 2017 Alltrack...BUT...start looking into some of the related cost of repair of parts/labor that eventually need replacement and it becomes less like and more loath. For instance replace a water pump (with plastic housing) the part is certainly cheap enough around $60 but to have it done in a shop (almost mandatory) the cost soars to around $1200 because it's buried under so much you have to remove the intake and pretty much everything on the front part of the engine to get to it! So much for VW engineering. Or how about the required cleaning of the back of intake valves anywhere from $500 up that's something that has to be done every 35k-60k miles due to it being direct injection and the back side of the valves get all coated with carbon build-up.The water pump will need replacement as early as 30kmi so keep that in mind. Then you've got the standard DSG transmission fluid and filter change at 40kmi around $450 Haldex rear diff around $150 at 30kmi
Bottom line it's not a cheap car to maintain. Many of these items are the same for most Golfs gas engines w/DSG. It's a nice car to drive but the cost of ownership is $$$. Just keep a couple thousand dollars in your piggy bank for this maintenance because we'll need it...eventually.
Buy one! I've spent a lot of time in a 2017 model and it's a great car!
Looked for either an Alltrack or a Sportwagen with manual transmission for several months in 2017. There none to be had - every one in three states had an AutoMagic. Finally settled for '17 Golf GTI Sport with the six-speed manual at an end of year price. Though I continue to be sanely in love with the GTI, there is still a sort of wistful wondering what a manual shift Alltrack would have been like.
Jon Rolfson i was the same in uk settled for performance gti with dsg love it ! Like the alltrack but don’t need it here !
I absolutely love my 2018 top spec Alltrack. Bought it brand new. Went from my Mercedes E550(A total rocket) down to a dog friendly wagon. 4matic sucks to drive in snow so the decision to dump the rocket was made easier. Handles better than the Merc but lacks the seat pinning thrust.. Really is a great vehicle.
0
I recently had one of these wagons as a rental, with the DSG automatic. I absolutely loved it, but wished it had the six speed manual. Terrific car, sad to hear it's being phased out.
If my knee didnt pin my hand/knock my hand off the wheel, I would have bought one. I'm 6'5.
Now I wait for the day I convert my Tiguan (4Motion) to manual!
Where'd you find a wife that prefers "standard shift"?
The buick wagon looks amazing
You mean the Opel? A bit bigger, but it was on our shopping list.
Just got an SE with the diver's assistance and appearance package. White on brown with the manual. I'm loving it. I also have a MK6 GTI, and the Alltrack is almost as much fun to drive as that is!
it has cubbys under the driver seat & to the left of the steering column
I test drove the 2019 SEL and the steering column completely blocked my egress when the steering wheel and seats were adjusted. For reference I am 5'2".
I got the S model (no sunroof) it’s amazing!
I've got a 2015 Sportwagen. Under the floor in the trunk, there are hidden compartments. I removed the structure that makes them so I was able to lower the trunk floor by nearly 10 cm allowing more cargo to fit in. I carry my suitcases vertically now, something you can't do in an Outback for example. My car is a TDI with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and it allows the engine to deliver its power straight away. To my point of view, the DSG decreases the pleasure of driving such a good car.
Yes and the door pockets are the biggest of any car I have been in.
Plenty of storage.
Seriously considering one of these for myself...I have twin 9 year old boys and my wife is fine with a manual transmission. However, I'm 6' 4" and fit better in crossovers even though I'd rather have a wagon. What's up with Tommy hating the stick in the VW?
Buy the car. She likes it. It fits what she is looking for. We have a 2017 Alltrack and have had no significant problems with it. Just over 90K on the clock.
So sad that it's no longer available
I don't know if you bought one of these or not. I am hoping that you did. I am going to be picking one up. I have found a new one. Not the color that I wanted but it does have the MANUAL TRANSMISSION! In the SE trim. Can't wait for this week to pick it up!
One thing he forgot to mention is that you can tow a little bit with the Crosstrek and quite a bit with the Outback, but not at all with the Golf Alltrack. So, in that narrow sense, it is not at all between the Crosstrek and Outback.
I bought a regular golf back in '18 before I needed awd... Really like this car as a replacement. Bummed it's discontinued in the US...
Is there a longer video comparing to the Outback or is just that little clip of the offroading and the drag race all there is?
Almost bought a sel in silk blue/black interior and it was a hoot to drive. But I decided to upgrade into a Tiguan sel premium in the same exterior color. Both my wife and I needed something higher to ease entrance and exit. If your wife really likes it, let her buy it. It’s a great little wagon!
Michael Bauer This is why they’re being discontinued.
Is it worthing 28k$ now? I'm planning to buy a car on a budget.
Love it, much better than many crossover out there.
Take your own advice and buy it. (if you can afford too) Because you love it(mostly) your wife you say would love it. Your bargaining price power is there. And who knows, down the road if and when you are ready to get out of it, it might be a collectors dream. A journalists loved vehicle should be purchased and driven. I used to love OLD wagons from the 70's and 80's. As uncool as it was for a teen to drive, I found them VERY practical. For a variety of scenarios. Camping out in. Large groups of friends going to the lakes.. etc. Now everything is vans, cross overs, SUV's. Which is fine for todays society.
We have this car in Australia but VW don’t do a manual for it. Absolutely agree that Wagons are better to drive. I’ve had a Skoda Octavia vRS (based on VW golf wagon) for 5 years since new and I think I love it more now than when I bought it. It’s just so much fun to drive, and so practical. When it’s time to replace the Skoda the VW golf Alltrack is top of my list. Fingers crossed VW do the MK8 with a plug in hybrid.
I have a Golf Sportwagen and a Regal Tourx, the Golf is quite a bit sportier and smaller than the Regal. The Regal is my favorite for any kind of long drives or kid hauling. The Golf is my favorite to just drive to work. A loaded Regal TourX Essense is such a great bargain right now. The only reason to not get the Buick would be if you HAD to have the manual. The Regal 8 speed auto is good enough to me, although my Golf is a stick shift and that is fun. It plays to its lighter/smaller character. Overall, i am very happy with both wagons.
My wife bought new last summer a 2018 AllTrack SEL loaded Green (like the video) with Black and DSG. And got 5K off sticker! I assume the same is happening now. I told her we can never get rid of it. It gets positive feedback at Cars and Coffee. How many green wagons (or anything) do you see....ever!?
Watch out for the sunroof, is for sure that will have problems at any time, no matter if is new or old, you will have problems. Mine have problems since new with water leaks.
Did they fix the problem?
It's great for families of two. Backseat is too small. Looked at one a few years back and bought an Xterra instead. If your single or just two people, nice car.
Nils Johansson it’s not a 2 seater sports car fatty
Bally Sohal this is about the back seat passengers duhhhh